Forgot to move the pointer off of a window? Just remove it. Forgot to include the pointer? Just add one. I thought “it sure would it be nice of there was some kind of zoom window or magnifying glass so I could work with more precision.” Low and behold, guess what shows up in version 10? I’m sure there’s a checkbox on a configuration screen somewhere labeled “read my mind and send feedback to TechSmith.”Ĭleaning up goofs is easy as well. Here’s one example: If I need to capture a small portion of a window, in the past I had to place the little cross-hair pointer in the right location and as I clicked the mouse button to grab it, I might end up moving a pixel or two before the selection was made. I haven’t yet figured out where their mind-reading feedback feature is in the software but I’m not complaining. To my delight and amazement, in a subsequent release, that feature was improved. Over the years as I’ve used older versions of SnagIt and have thought “it’s cool that it has this feature but I wish it worked a little differently”. Having a software development background, I’m pretty critical about UI design and functionality. I love the auto-scroll targets that capture off-screen content – and one of my long-time favorite features is the ability to convert a block of on-screen bitmapped characters to text. With a fully-evolved UI, many if the core features are accessible without fishing through menus and dialogs. You just wave your mouse around the screen and SnagIt magically highlights different windows and objects for selection. The new dynamic window selection interface rocks. I can include the mouse pointer, add drop shadows, separate the background, create torn page effects, add arrows, shapes, stamps and call-outs easily and with professional polish. Multi-window composites and fly-out menus are easy as pie. If I’m documenting a series of steps in a process, I can crank through the screen captures as I do the work with little thought about how to crop windows, where to save the files or how to name them. Once I get rolling, I find myself taking screenshots just for the sheer enjoyment. You’d be hard pressed to find a program as intuitive and elegant as SnagIt Pro. I’m not aware of another software development shop that updates their software as often nor as effectively as the folks at TechSmith. I’m continually impressed at just how much this simple application can do. As a Microsoft MVP, I do get NFR copies of this and other software – whether I say good things about their products or not. I’ve paid for the software licensing for years. I know that sounds like a commercial but I’m not on their payroll. I’ve been using TechSmith SnagIt for at least ten years and I will not use another tool. Screen captures are a fundamental part of authoring and if they’re not done right, even good written work can look sloppy and unprofessional. I’m a book author and have been writing computer training material for several years. Since Vista, Windows even offers a simple screen snipping tool in the Accessories group of the Start menu but it’s not industrial-strength. However, if you produce any kind of documentation, learning manuals or publications this aint gonna cut it. ![]() ![]() If you need to take a quick picture of your desktop or a single open window, this is easy enough to do by pressing PrtScr or Alt-PrtScr and then pasting into an email or document. Now it’s just part of the necessary pace of computer use. Screen captures have become part of our computer culture… “I’ll send you a screen shot of the window so you can see what I’m talking about”.
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